Glittre endurance test: A new test to assess the functional capacity of individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND

For people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) the ability to perform functional activities for a prolonged duration is important for completion of daily tasks. While the Glittre-ADL test measures time taken to complete a series of functional activities, there is no test of endurance capacity for common daily activities.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Is the Glittre Endurance test a valid and responsive test to measure endurance capacity for functional daily tasks in people with COPD?

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study. Fifty-seven participants with COPD (mean ± SD age:69 ± 7 years; FEV₁:48 ± 18%predicted) were recruited. All participants performed the Glittre-ADL test without a backpack (Glittre-ADL-noBP). Nine participants (Group A) performed a Glittre Endurance test at 90% of the speed to complete one lap of the Glittre-ADL-noBP. 48 participants (Group B) performed two Glittre Endurance tests at 100% of Glittre-ADL-noBP speed. The time to voluntary cessation or not keeping up with target pace was the test outcome.

RESULTS

Mean ± SD of the Glittre Endurance test was 12.11 ± 6.43 min and 6.90 ± 4.40 min for the test at 90% and 100% speeds, respectively. When the 100% Glittre Endurance test 2 was compared to test 1, there was a 14% increase in test time, indicating a learning effect (p = 0.005). Following pulmonary rehabilitation (n = 20) the Glittre Endurance test increased by 3.12 min (29%), and the Glittre-ADL-noBP reduced by 0.33 min (10%).

CONCLUSION

The Glittre Endurance test performed at 100% of the Glittre-ADL-noBP speed provided an appropriate endurance test time, and was more sensitive to change following pulmonary rehabilitation than the Glittre-ADL-noBP.

Changes in Exercise Capacity and Health-Related Quality of Life at Four and Eight Weeks of a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program in People with COPD

Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) is a key intervention in the management of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), though few studies have assessed where changes in outcomes occur during a PR program. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in exercise capacity and health-related quality of life at four and eight weeks during a twice-weekly supervised PR program in people with COPD. Fifty participants with COPD were recruited and attended PR twice-weekly for eight weeks. The outcome measures were the endurance shuttle walk test (ESWT), six-minute walk distance (6MWD), St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) which were measured at baseline, four and eight weeks. Compared to baseline, at week four there were significant improvements in ESWT (mean difference [95%CI] 197 [89 to 305] seconds), 6MWD (22 [8 to 36] metres), SGRQ symptom score (-6 [-12 to -1] points) and SGRQ total score (-4 [-7 to -1] points). Between week four and eight there were further significant improvements in ESWT (94 [8 to 181] seconds) only. By week eight, ESWT, 6MWD, SGRQ symptoms and total score, and CAT had all improved significantly compared to baseline measures. This study demonstrated that participants with moderate to very severe COPD who participated in a twice weekly, eight-week PR program (16 sessions) had significant improvement in ESWT, 6MWD, SGRQ, and CAT score with the greatest improvements occurring in the first four weeks of the program.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15412555.2021.2013793 .

Increasing Walking Speed to Achieve a Pre-training Endurance Shuttle Walk Time of 5-10 min May Improve Test Responsiveness in People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

PURPOSE

The endurance shuttle walk test (ESWT) was used to evaluate ground-based walking training in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. During pre-training testing, those who walked 5-10 min on the first ESWT with minimal symptoms performed additional ESWTs at increasing speeds until they were at least moderately symptomatic and terminated the test between 5 and 10 min. This report compares participant characteristics and test responsiveness with participants grouped according to whether or not faster walking speeds were selected for the ESWT during pre-training testing.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of data collected in the intervention group during a randomized controlled trial. The intervention was supervised ground-based walking training, performed two to three times/wk, for 8-10 wk. Prior to and immediately following completion of training, participants completed the 6-min walk test (6MWT), incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT), and ESWT.

RESULTS

Data were available on 77 participants (70 ± 9 yr, forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration [FEV1] 43 ± 15 % predicted). For those whom a faster speed was selected during the pre-training ESWTs were characterized by milder dyspnea and leg fatigue on completion of the baseline 6MWT and ISWT (P < .05 for all). On training completion, the change in ESWT was greater in those for whom a faster speed was selected (376 ± 344 sec vs 176 ± 274 sec; P = .017).

CONCLUSIONS

Participants who report modest symptoms on completion of the pre-training 6MWT or ISWT may achieve a long pre-training ESWT time. In this situation, repeating the pre-training ESWT at a faster walking speed to achieve an exercise time between 5 and 10 min with moderate symptoms may be advantageous.

Diagnosis and management of connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease in Australia and New Zealand: A position statement from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand

Pulmonary complications in CTD are common and can involve the interstitium, airways, pleura and pulmonary vasculature. ILD can occur in all CTD (CTD-ILD), and may vary from limited, non-progressive lung involvement, to fulminant, life-threatening disease. Given the potential for major adverse outcomes in CTD-ILD, accurate diagnosis, assessment and careful consideration of therapeutic intervention are a priority. Limited data are available to guide management decisions in CTD-ILD. Autoimmune-mediated pulmonary inflammation is considered a key pathobiological pathway in these disorders, and immunosuppressive therapy is generally regarded the cornerstone of treatment for severe and/or progressive CTD-ILD. However, the natural history of CTD-ILD in individual patients can be difficult to predict, and deciding who to treat, when and with what agent can be challenging. Establishing realistic therapeutic goals from both the patient and clinician perspective requires considerable expertise. The document aims to provide a framework for clinicians to aid in the assessment and management of ILD in the major CTD. A suggested approach to diagnosis and monitoring of CTD-ILD and, where available, evidence-based, disease-specific approaches to treatment have been provided.

Validity and Responsiveness of the Glittre-ADL Test without a Backpack in People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The Glittre-ADL test assesses the functional capacity for activities of daily living of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the test, a weighted backpack is worn (2.5 kg for women and 5.0 kg for men). The differential in weight between men and women is not common in other tests of exercise capacity and may limit the comparison of the test between sexes. The primary aim of this study was to validate the Glittre-ADL test performed without the backpack in people with COPD. Forty participants with mild to severe COPD (mean ± SD age: 70 ± 6 years; FEV₁: 48 ± 20%predicted) were recruited and performed two six-minute walk tests (visit 1); two Glittre-ADL tests with backpack (visit 2), and the Glittre-ADL test with and without the backpack, in random order (visit 3). The Glittre-ADL test time was shorter without the backpack than with the backpack [mean difference -0.37 min (95%CI -0.59 to -0.15)] and heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation (SpO₂) were equivalents between tests [-1.31 beats/minute (-3.92 to 1.30) and -0.95% (-2.27 to 0.37), respectively]. The Glittre-ADL test without the backpack elicited similar HR and SpO2 responses as the test with the backpack, indicating equivalence of physiological demand. Thus, the Glittre-ADL test without the backpack was a valid, responsive, and appropriate test to assess functional capacity for activities of daily living.

An observational study of self-reported sedentary behaviour in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis

BACKGROUND

Few studies have examined sedentary behaviour in chronic respiratory disease. The limited evidence suggests that increased levels of sedentary behaviour are associated with increased mortality.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to compare the level of self-reported sedentary behaviour in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis as well as to identify associations between sedentary time with functional performance measures and health-related quality of life in the chronic respiratory disease group.

METHODS

An observational study design was used. Participants completed the Sedentary Behaviour Questionnaire from which average sedentary time (hours/day) was determined. Functional performance was measured using the six-minute walk test, the four-metre gait speed test and the five sit-to-stand test. Health-related quality of life was measured using the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire. Sedentary time was compared between groups using an unpaired t-test. Univariate analysis explored relationships amongst variables.

RESULTS

The convenience sample consisted of 103 people with COPD [52% male; mean±SD age: 73±9 years, FEV₁% predicted: 56±23] and 33 people with bronchiectasis [52% male; 74±8 years, FEV₁% predicted: 69±25]. Average self-reported sedentary time in COPD was 7.6±2.7 hours/day and in bronchiectasis was 8.0±4.1 hours/day, with no between-group difference (-0.4, 95% CI -1.7, 0.8). No associations were found between sedentary time and any functional performance outcome or with health-related quality of life.

CONCLUSION

There was no difference in the high sedentary time between people with COPD and bronchiectasis. Sedentary behaviour was not associated with functional performance or disease-related health-related quality of life in people with chronic respiratory disease.

Oxygen compared to air during exercise training in COPD with exercise-induced desaturation

Almost half the patients referred to pulmonary rehabilitation with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) desaturate during exercise. Although oxygen supplementation may ameliorate oxygen desaturation, the effects on outcomes of exercise training have not been rigorously evaluated. This study aimed to determine whether supplemental oxygen during exercise training was more effective than medical air in improving exercise capacity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in people with COPD.People with COPD who demonstrated oxygen desaturation <90% during the 6-min walk test were recruited to this multicentre trial with randomisation (independent, concealed allocation) to either an Oxygen group or Air group, blinding (participants, exercise trainers and European Respiratory Journal assessors) and intention-to-treat analysis. Both groups received the respective gas from concentrators via nasal prongs at 5 L·min^-1 during exercise training consisting of treadmill and cycle exercise, three times per week for 8 weeks. Primary outcomes were the endurance shuttle walk test (ESWT) time and Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ)-Total score.111 participants (60 males), mean±sd age 69±7 years, with moderate to severe COPD were recruited and 97 completed (Oxygen group n=52; Air group n=45). At the end of the 8-week training programme there were no between-group differences in change in ESWT (mean difference 15 s (95% CI -106-136 s) or change in CRQ-Total (0.0 points (95% CI -0.3-0.3 points)). Within-group changes at end-training were significant for ESWT and CRQ-Total (all p<0.01).Exercise capacity and HRQoL improved in both groups, with no greater benefit from training with supplemental oxygen than medical air.

Maintaining the benefits following pulmonary rehabilitation: Achievable or not?

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) improves exercise capacity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and dyspnoea in patients with COPD and other lung conditions. Once PR is completed, the benefits gained begin to decline unless patients continue to exercise regularly. Due to limited evidence in other lung conditions, this review aims to examine the current evidence regarding maintenance exercise programmes for patients with COPD and to determine the types of programmes that are able to maintain the benefits gained from PR to 12 months and longer. A number of factors may affect the ability to maintain exercise capacity and HRQoL in the long term including: frequency of supervised maintenance exercise; strategies used to improve adherence to maintenance exercise; facilitators and barriers to long-term exercise training; and initial PR programme itself. The current evidence for maintenance exercise programmes that included supervised maintenance exercise was weak, and for those programmes that included unsupervised maintenance exercise (with and without support) were difficult to interpret and in many instances were no better than usual care. New research using technology has provided some promising results for the future and surveys have revealed important features that may help in the development of maintenance programmes from a participant perspective such as ongoing therapist support. How to best maintain the benefits gained from PR remains unclear. Therefore, it is likely that no one model of maintenance is ideal for all patients with COPD and that individually adapted maintenance exercise programmes need to be considered.

Australian and New Zealand Pulmonary Rehabilitation Guidelines

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The aim of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Guidelines (Guidelines) is to provide evidence-based recommendations for the practice of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) specific to Australian and New Zealand healthcare contexts.

METHODS

The Guideline methodology adhered to the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II criteria. Nine key questions were constructed in accordance with the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome) format and reviewed by a COPD consumer group for appropriateness. Systematic reviews were undertaken for each question and recommendations made with the strength of each recommendation based on the GRADE (Gradings of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) criteria. The Guidelines were externally reviewed by a panel of experts.

RESULTS

The Guideline panel recommended that patients with mild-to-severe COPD should undergo PR to improve quality of life and exercise capacity and to reduce hospital admissions; that PR could be offered in hospital gyms, community centres or at home and could be provided irrespective of the availability of a structured education programme; that PR should be offered to patients with bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease and pulmonary hypertension, with the latter in specialized centres. The Guideline panel was unable to make recommendations relating to PR programme length beyond 8 weeks, the optimal model for maintenance after PR, or the use of supplemental oxygen during exercise training. The strength of each recommendation and the quality of the evidence are presented in the summary.

CONCLUSION

The Australian and New Zealand Pulmonary Rehabilitation Guidelines present an evaluation of the evidence for nine PICO questions, with recommendations to provide guidance for clinicians and policymakers.

A randomised controlled trial of supplemental oxygen versus medical air during exercise training in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: supplemental oxygen in pulmonary rehabilitation trial (SuppORT) (Protocol)

BACKGROUND

Oxygen desaturation during exercise is common in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of the study is to determine, in people with COPD who desaturate during exercise, whether supplemental oxygen during an eight-week exercise training program is more effective than medical air (sham intervention) in improving exercise capacity and health-related quality of life both at the completion of training and at six-month follow up.

METHODS/DESIGN

This is a multi-centre randomised controlled trial with concealed allocation, blinding of participants, exercise trainers and assessors, and intention-to-treat analysis. 110 people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who demonstrate oxygen desaturation lower than 90 % during the six-minute walk test will be recruited from pulmonary rehabilitation programs in seven teaching hospitals in Australia. People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on long term oxygen therapy will be excluded. After confirmation of eligibility and baseline assessment, participants will be randomised to receive either supplemental oxygen or medical air during an eight-week supervised treadmill and cycle exercise training program, three times per week for eight weeks, in hospital outpatient settings. Primary outcome measures will be endurance walking capacity assessed by the endurance shuttle walk test and health-related quality of life assessed by the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes will include peak walking capacity measured by the incremental shuttle walk test, dyspnoea via the Dyspnoea-12 questionnaire and physical activity levels measured over seven days using an activity monitor. All outcomes will be measured at baseline, completion of training and at six-month follow up.

DISCUSSION

Exercise training is an essential component of pulmonary rehabilitation for people with COPD. This study will determine whether supplemental oxygen during exercise training is more effective than medical air in improving exercise capacity and health-related quality of life in people with COPD who desaturate during exercise.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12612000395831, 5th Jan,2012.

Repeatability of the endurance shuttle walk test in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

INTRODUCTION

Walking tests, including the endurance shuttle walk test (ESWT), have been used to assess functional capacity in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Learning effects through repeated practice have been reported for some field walking tests. However, the repeatability of ESWT at various time points, i.e. within the same day, within the week and one week apart, has not been examined.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the repeatability of ESWT overtime to determine whether or not a learning effect existed.

METHODS

Twenty-two participants diagnosed with COPD [age 71 ± 6 years; FEV₁ % predicted 54 ± 24%] were recruited. Participants performed two incremental shuttle walk tests to determine the walking speed for the ESWT and a practice ESWT (E_p ) to determine whether the ESWT level was appropriate. ESWT 1(E₁ ) and ESWT 2(E₂ ) were performed on the same day, 30 min apart; ESWT 3(E₃ ) was performed within a week from E₂ ; ESWT 4(E₄ ) was performed one week after E₃ . Duration walked in each ESWT was recorded. The repeatability of the four ESWTs was analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance.

RESULTS

The mean durations of E₁ to E₄ were 368 ± 203 s, 371 ± 182 s, 386 ± 213 s and 367 ± 223 s, respectively, with no time effect (F=0.18, P=0.79).

CONCLUSION

There was no evidence of learning effect when ESWT was repeated within one day, within one week and one week apart, once the appropriate baseline level was established, showing that ESWT is repeatable in people with moderate COPD.

Smallest worthwhile effect of land-based and water-based pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD

This study aimed to determine the smallest worthwhile effect of land-based and water-based pulmonary rehabilitation on 6-min walk distance among people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Using a benefit–harm trade-off method, people with COPD who had completed two baseline 6-min walk tests at the commencement of outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation were presented with two scenarios: 8 weeks of land-based and 8 weeks of water-based pulmonary rehabilitation. Participants were guided through an iterative process allowing them to progressively refine their estimates of the smallest improvement due to each form of rehabilitation that would outweigh the associated costs, risks and inconvenience presented in the scenario.

100 people with COPD participated (mean±sd age 72±9 years, forced expiratory volume in 1 s 54±16% predicted and baseline 6-min walk distance 377±101 m). For land-based pulmonary rehabilitation, the median smallest worthwhile effect was 20 m (95% CI 15–37 m). For water-based pulmonary rehabilitation, the median smallest worthwhile effect was 26 m (95% CI 15–33 m). These estimates did not differ significantly (p=0.10).

People with COPD typically perceive that pulmonary rehabilitation would be worthwhile if it increased the 6-min walk distance by about 6%. The smallest worthwhile effects of land- and water-based pulmonary rehabilitation were similar.

The smallest worthwhile effect of land- and water-based pulmonary rehabilitation on 6MWD is 20 and 26 m, respectivelyhttp://ow.ly/NJ0zN

The effects of oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy in adults with stable non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: A systematic review

Airway clearance techniques (ACTs) are recommended for patients with stable non-cystic fibrosis (non-CF) bronchiectasis, but the efficacy of oscillating positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy compared to other techniques has not been reviewed. A systematic review of studies was conducted in stable patients comparing the effect of oscillating PEP therapy to other ACTs or a control condition. Data were extracted related to sputum expectoration, lung function, gas exchange, quality of life (QOL), symptoms, and exacerbation rate. Seven studies were included with a total of 146 patients, with a mean (SD) PEDro score of 7(1). Oscillating PEP therapy enhanced sputum expectoration compared to no treatment, but has equivalent benefits as the active cycle of breathing technique with gravity-assisted drainage (mean difference [95% CI] -2.8 g [-8.8 to 3.2 g]). Oscillating PEP has a similar effect as other ACTs on dynamic lung volumes, gas exchange and breathlessness. Use of oscillating PEP improved disease-specific QOL (p < 0.001) and cough-related QOL (p < 0.002) compared to no treatment but did not reduce exacerbation rate. In conclusion, in stable non-CF bronchiectasis, oscillating PEP therapy is associated with improvement in sputum expectoration and QOL compared to no treatment. Compared to other ACTs, the effect upon sputum expectoration, lung function, gas exchange, and symptoms are equivalent.

Ground-based walking training improves quality of life and exercise capacity in COPD

This study was designed to determine the effect of ground-based walking training on health-related quality of life and exercise capacity in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). People with COPD were randomised to either a walking group that received supervised, ground-based walking training two to three times a week for 8-10 weeks, or a control group that received usual medical care and did not participate in exercise training. 130 out of 143 participants (mean±sd age 69±8 years, forced expiratory volume in 1 s 43±15% predicted) completed the study. Compared to the control group, the walking group demonstrated greater improvements in the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire total score (mean difference -6 points (95% CI -10- -2), p<0.003), Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire total score (mean difference 7 points (95% CI 2-11), p<0.01) and endurance shuttle walk test time (mean difference 208 s (95% CI 104-313), p<0.001). This study shows that ground-based walking training is an effective training modality that improves quality of life and endurance exercise capacity in people with COPD.

A Survey of Opinions and Attitudes Toward Exercise Following a 12-month Maintenance Exercise Program for People with COPD

PURPOSE

To determine the opinions and attitudes toward exercise in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who had completed a randomised controlled trial of 12-months maintenance exercise.

METHODS

Participants were eligible for recruitment to the maintenance exercise study if they had COPD and had completed an 8-week pulmonary rehabilitation program. They were randomized into an Intervention Group (IG) that consisted of once weekly, supervised hospital-based maintenance exercise plus home exercise for 12 months or a Control Group that undertook unsupervised home maintenance exercise for 12 months. At the end of the 12 months, participants completed a survey consisting of 23 questions using a visual analogue scale (VAS) of 100 mm.

RESULTS

Forty-eight participants completed the 12 month study and 36 participants (75%) completed the survey [IG mean (SD): age 65 (8) years, FEV1 58 (20) % predicted; CG: age 66 (8) years, FEV1 67 (17) % predicted]. No between group difference was found for the importance of exercise, the benefits of the program or the importance of support from the physiotherapist. However, the IG reported exercising more regularly, having more enjoyment of being involved in the maintenance exercise program, greater benefit in general well-being, and better physical fitness.

CONCLUSIONS

At the completion of the 12 month exercise study, the survey results showed that all participants reported positive attitudes towards both supervised and unsupervised maintenance exercise programs, with the IG reporting greater benefits.

Six-Minute Walk Test as an Outcome Measure

A 3-mo prospective, longitudinal, repeated-measures study was undertaken in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study aimed to determine whether there was a difference in 6-min walk distance (6MWD) when two 6-min walk tests were performed after pulmonary rehabilitation (n = 44) and at 3-mo follow-up (n = 40), and whether the results reflected the program outcomes. There was a significant increase in 6MWD between two 6-min walk tests before rehabilitation (P < 0.001), and at 3-mo follow-up (P < 0.001), but not immediately after rehabilitation (P = 0.1). In terms of program outcomes, there was an increase in 6MWD from before to after pulmonary rehabilitation (P < 0.001); however, the increase was greater if the better of two tests was reported. Six-minute walk tests performed twice before and after pulmonary rehabilitation programs and at 3-mo follow-up assessments ensure accuracy of measurement of the 6MWD and program outcomes.

Do supervised weekly exercise programs maintain functional exercise capacity and quality of life, twelve months after pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD?

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary rehabilitation programs have been shown to increase functional exercise capacity and quality of life in COPD patients. However, following the completion of pulmonary rehabilitation the benefits begin to decline unless the program is of longer duration or ongoing maintenance exercise is followed. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine if supervised, weekly, hospital-based exercise compared to home exercise will maintain the benefits gained from an eight-week pulmonary rehabilitation program in COPD subjects to twelve months.

METHODS

Following completion of an eight-week pulmonary rehabilitation program, COPD subjects will be recruited and randomised (using concealed allocation in numbered envelopes) into either the maintenance exercise group (supervised, weekly, hospital-based exercise) or the control group (unsupervised home exercise) and followed for twelve months. Measurements will be taken at baseline (post an eight-week pulmonary rehabilitation program), three, six and twelve months. The exercise measurements will include two six-minute walk tests, two incremental shuttle walk tests, and two endurance shuttle walk tests. Oxygen saturation, heart rate and dyspnoea will be monitored during all these tests. Quality of life will be measured using the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Participants will be excluded if they require supplemental oxygen or have neurological or musculoskeletal co-morbidities that will prevent them from exercising independently.

DISCUSSION

Pulmonary rehabilitation plays an important part in the management of COPD and the results from this study will help determine if supervised, weekly, hospital-based exercise can successfully maintain functional exercise capacity and quality of life following an eight-week pulmonary rehabilitation program in COPD subjects in Australia.

Double blind randomised controlled trial of two different breathing techniques in the management of asthma

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that breathing techniques reduce short acting beta(2) agonist use and improve quality of life (QoL) in asthma. The primary aim of this double blind study was to compare the effects of breathing exercises focusing on shallow nasal breathing with those of non-specific upper body exercises on asthma symptoms, QoL, other measures of disease control, and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) dose. This study also assessed the effect of peak flow monitoring on outcomes in patients using breathing techniques.

METHODS

After a 2 week run in period, 57 subjects were randomised to one of two breathing techniques learned from instructional videos. During the following 30 weeks subjects practised their exercises twice daily and as needed for relief of symptoms. After week 16, two successive ICS downtitration steps were attempted. The primary outcome variables were QoL score and daily symptom score at week 12.

RESULTS

Overall there were no clinically important differences between the groups in primary or secondary outcomes at weeks 12 or 28. The QoL score remained unchanged (0.7 at baseline v 0.5 at week 28, p = 0.11 both groups combined), as did lung function and airway responsiveness. However, across both groups, reliever use decreased by 86% (p<0.0001) and ICS dose was reduced by 50% (p<0.0001; p>0.10 between groups). Peak flow monitoring did not have a detrimental effect on asthma outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Breathing techniques may be useful in the management of patients with mild asthma symptoms who use a reliever frequently, but there is no evidence to favour shallow nasal breathing over non-specific upper body exercises.

Pregnancy, delivery, and pouch function after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis

PURPOSE

This study was designed to evaluate the pregnancies, method of delivery, and functional results of females with chronic ulcerative colitis who have an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

METHODS

A mailed questionnaire was sent to all females with an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for chronic ulcerative colitis. Information on the pregnancy, method of delivery, and outcome was collected. Those females who had a successful pregnancy and delivery were contacted by telephone to clarify results and determine pouch functional results. Other clinical information was obtained from the Mount Sinai Hospital Inflammatory Bowel Disease database.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight subjects had 67 pregnancies. Of these, 29 subjects had 49 deliveries. There were 25 vaginal deliveries and 24 cesarean sections. There were two pouch-related complications during the pregnancies and four pouch-related complications postpartum. All were treated nonoperatively. Stool frequency and day and night incontinence were increased during pregnancy in most subjects, but after delivery, prepregnancy function was restored in 24 (83 percent) of them. Five subjects (17 percent) had some degree of permanent deterioration in pouch function. Of these, three had vaginal deliveries, and two had cesarean sections. Multiple births and birth weight were not found to adversely affect subsequent pouch function.

CONCLUSION

Pregnancy is safe in females with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. Functional results are altered almost exclusively during the third trimester, but pouch function promptly returns to prepregnancy status in most females. A small proportion of females have long-term disturbances in function, but these are not related to the method of delivery. Thus, the method of delivery should be dictated by obstetric considerations.

Dietary adaptations of Plio-Pleistocene Bovidae: implications for hominid habitat use

Detailed reconstructions of vegetation structure are critical to understanding morphological and behavioral adaptations of Plio-Pleistocene African hominids, Savanna grassland habitats are often postulated as being influential in the evolution of many hominid adaptations (e.g., bipedality, foraging behaviors), yet the existence of this habitat type throughout the African Plio-Pleistocene has not been clearly established. Broad-scale reconstructions of hominid habitats as "savanna-mosaic" do not account for the fact that African grasslands may be classified into at least two different types: edaphic grasslands, which include seasonally flooded valley grasslands; and secondary grasslands, which include vast, relatively dry savanna grasslands. Though edaphic grasslands have existed for millions of years, it is unknown when secondary grasslands became widespread. The presence of specific microhabitats, including secondary grasslands, at a number of hominid sites was investigated in this study through reconstruction of diet and habitat preference in five extinct bovid taxa that were contemporaneous with early hominids. To reconstruct diet in extinct taxa, morphological correlates of dietary preferences were identified through a comparative study of cranial form in extant bovids. Metric data from cranial material of the five African Plio-Pleistocene bovid taxa were compared with extant bovid results, which yielded information of specific feeding behaviors of the extinct taxa. Reconstructed diets suggest that the earliest taxa to inhabit secondary grasslands in East Africa were Connochaetes gentryi and Parmularius altidens at around 2 m.y.a. It may therefore be inferred that secondary grasslands became prevalent at this time. This inference of secondary grassland development suggests that adaptations to this habitat type were not related to the origin of the Hominidae or to the evolution of bipedality in hominids. However, evidence suggests that this habitat type was influential in the evolution of Homo erectus sensu lato just after 2 m.y.a. in East Africa.

A new classification of ophthalmic disorders with standardized ophthalmic abbreviations

A classification of ocular disorders has been developed that is both comprehensive and easy to use. Each disorder was assigned a unique abbreviation and cross referenced to the International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition (ICD-9). Ophthalmic procedures, medications, and other terms were similarly standardized and abbreviated. The result is a system of ophthalmic terminology that improves the quality of the medical record, facilitates ICD-9 coding, and makes computer data entry faster and more accurate. The system is published as a standard text with companion handbook. A computer program that uses the system also has been developed.